After a transformative 'buff everything' patch, Helldivers 2's bottom barrel guns are the new top dogs
There is no other game I've had a better time playing than Helldivers 2 this year, but it's weird to think about just how different it was just a few months ago. Back then, picking a loadout was always this exercise in compromise: There were only a handful of guns and stratagems powerful enough to take on the largest Terminid and Automaton bullies, and the gap between my «favorite» guns and the «best» ones couldn't have been wider.
I'm glad to say that's not the case anymore. While I do miss when Helldivers 2 had proper boss fights, its meta, which used to revolve around a small club of nukes, railguns, and rocket launchers that could punch through the thickest armor, has never been more inclusive. Two months removed from Arrowhead's transformative «buff everything» patch, I've stopped asking myself «What will work here?» before dropping into a mission and instead wonder «What wouldn't work here?»
The community is on board with Arrowhead's new balancing direction, too. There were a rough few months there where seemingly every numbers tweak Arrowhead made went over like a lead balloon with its loudest fans on Reddit and social media, with demands to stop the nerfs often elevating to bullying. But many divers still playing daily believe the game's never been in a better spot. That's also the take of Dr. Pooplove, a prominent Helldivers 2 YouTuber who tirelessly assesses guns in helpful weapon tier lists with the goal of not taking the comedic co-op shooter too seriously.
«I would say while it's still not perfect, the game is in its most fun state ever now and I love that you really can't pinpoint one 'meta' anymore,» Dr P. told PC Gamer over email. «Many different loadouts and strategies feel viable, strong and most importantly fun to bring out on the battlefield.»
It's true. When I matchmake into a random squad now, I'm seeing folks maining the Arc Thrower, Laser Cannon, and even my beloved, misunderstood Adjudicator. Helldivers 2's balance has never felt more
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